Nashua River Rail Trail

The Nashua River Rail Trail is a paved path on an old train line from Ayer to the New Hampshire line. It is flat and shady, runs through woods, farms and wetlands, and starts at the Ayer train station.

Length
11 mi
rail trail
Surface
Paved
the whole way
Get on at
7 places
on the map

From Ayer Center to Gilson Road

Parking at every place to get on · See where

Train back from Ayer station · Next trains

Open. No closures as of Oct 21, 2026.

Directions to Ayer Center

Where to get on

Numbers match the list; P has parking.

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For Ride with GPS, Strava, Komoot or a bike computer.

  1. Ayer Center, Groton Street (southern end)

    Near the southern end of the trail, which starts at Main Street (Route 2A). Restrooms at the Ayer Center parking lot. Bike repair station here.

    Ayer station, MBTA Commuter Rail Fitchburg Line, about 350 m south, across Main Street.
    Ayer Center lot and commuter garage at 3 Groton St (DCR). Some spaces are for trail users.
    Directions

  2. Broadmeadow Road, Groton

    Seasonal portable restroom at this lot (DCR).

    Small trail parking lot.
    Directions

  3. Groton Center, Station Avenue

    Groton town center is a short walk away.

    On-street parking beside the trail on Station Avenue, 10 to 15 spaces (DCR, 31 Court St).
    Directions

  4. Sand Hill Road, Groton

    Quiet wooded stretch. Bike repair station here (Friends group).

    Gravel lot, 10 to 15 spaces, at 92 Sand Hill Rd (DCR).
    Directions

  5. Pepperell Center, Main Street and Groton Street (Route 113)

    Shops and places to eat by the trail. Bike repair station here.

    Gravel lot, 20 spaces, at 142 Main St (DCR).
    Directions

  6. Hollis Street, Dunstable (state line)

    Last parking in Massachusetts. The trail crosses into New Hampshire just north of here.

    Gravel lot, 10 spaces, at 690 Hollis St (DCR).
    Directions

  7. Gilson Road, Nashua, NH (northern end)

    Northern end of the trail, about a mile into New Hampshire. Seasonal portable toilet (Friends group).

    Free paved lot, about 40 spaces (Friends group).
    Directions

Getting there

By transit
Take the MBTA Commuter Rail Fitchburg Line to Ayer.
More

The trail starts by the station, across Main Street. Bikes are allowed on most trains, but not at peak times.

Parking
DCR lists five lots: Ayer Center (3 Groton St), Groton Center (Station Ave by 31 Court St), Sand Hill Road in Groton, Pepperell Square (142 Main St) and the state line lot in Dunstable (690 Hollis St).
More

There is also a lot on Broadmeadow Road in Groton. Most lots are small and gravel. In New Hampshire there are lots on Route 111A in Hollis and at Gilson Road in Nashua.

Ride out, train home

Ride the trail one way and take the Commuter Rail back. Ayer station is right on the trail.

About the Nashua River Rail Trail

Surface
Paved (asphalt) the whole way. An unpaved horse path runs beside the paved trail.
Rules
Open sunrise to sunset. Dogs allowed. Speed limit 15 mph. Class 1 e-bikes (pedal-assist, up to 20 mph) are allowed. After dusk, e-bikes need a white headlight and red taillight. Yield to people walking. Horseback riding and cross-country skiing allowed. No alcohol, hunting, fires or camping. Helmets are required by law for riders 16 and under (DCR).
Restrooms
Ayer Center parking lot (DCR). Seasonal portable restroom at the Broadmeadow Road lot in Groton (DCR). The Friends group says Kemp's Service Station in Pepperell lets trail users use its restroom, and there is a seasonal portable toilet at Gilson Road in Nashua.
Water
The Friends group lists drinking fountains at Depot Square Park in Ayer and next to Groton Town Hall.
Food
Downtown Ayer at the southern end has places to eat. Pepperell Center, right by the trail, has an ice cream shop and a small restaurant. Hours not checked.
Who looks after it
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) for the Massachusetts part. The last mile is in Nashua, New Hampshire.
Also called
NRRT, Nashua Rail Trail, Ayer rail trail, Groton rail trail, Pepperell rail trail

More about the trail

Where these facts come fromChecked Oct 21, 2026